The writing of some
of the early Christians have always been fascinating to me. They wrote
that at the end of 6,000 years of history, Christ would return and reign
for 1,000 years (referred to as the Millennium). These included Barnabas
(c. A.D. 100), Justin Martyr and Irenaeus (c. A.D. 150), Lactantius
(c. A.D. 325), and Methodius, Bishop of Tyre (c. A.D. 300). For example,
Barnabas wrote: "As there had been 2,000 years from Adam to Abraham,
and 2,000 from Abraham to Christ; so there will be 2,000 years for the
Christian era and then would come the Millennium."

According to some
chronologists, the 6,000 years recently expired. But what about the
"2,000 years for the Christian era," as written by Barnabas?
Was he wrong, or could he have been correct?

If he was correct,
the "Christian era" began at Pentecost of the year of the
crucifixion. But what year was that? This is debatable, but much evidence
points to the spring of AD 33 for the crucifixion, about which some
are adamant. (Please don't send me your contrary arguments. I am not
dogmatic on this. Just follow my line of reasoning.) Pentecost would
have been 50 days later.

If AD 33 is correct,
then 2,000 modern, Gregorian (365-day) years takes us to 2033-2034.
That is so far in the future, I have no immediate interest. Yawn. Please
remind me in about 27 years, but I am not sure I will have this same
email address then.

But if AD 33 is
correct, and biblical years are used, then 2,000 (360-day) years takes
us to 2004-2005. This captures my immediate interest! That is calculated
by converting 2,000 modern years, which equals 1971.3 Jewish years (2,000
X 360 divided by 365.24).

If we start counting
in the spring, April-May, of AD 33 and add 1971.3 years, we come to
April-May 2004 + 0.3 years, or about the fall of 2004, as I calculate
it.

If this is valid,
and if Barbabas and other ancients are correct -- IF, IF, IF -- that
means we just recently passed the 2,000th biblical-year mark of the
church age and end-time events will start unfolding rapidly, as they
apparently have been, eg, Israel, apostasy, increase in earthquakes,
etc. And as many have been saying by biblical interpretation and by
various personal revelations, the rapture and beginning of the tribulation
are imminent.

OTHER WRITINGS.

The writings of
other church fathers such as Victorinus, Bishop of Petau and Hippotylus
support the argument that the apostles and the early church believed
and taught that the Millennium would commence at the end of 6,000 years.

Even the writings
of the early Jews expressed the view that the Messiah would come at
abut the end of the last century. After the Bible, the Talmud is the
most authoritative source of Judaism. The view frequently expressed
in the Talmud, according to researchers, is that the world as we know
it would last only 6,000 years. For example, the Tanna debe Eliyyahu
teaches: "The world is to exist 6,000 years. In the first 2,000,
there was desolation (no Torah, from Adam to Abraham), 2,000 years the
Torah flourished, and the next 2,000 years is the Messianic era (He
should have come within that period . . . He should have come at the
beginning of the last 2,000 years; the delay is due to our sins )"
(emphasis added; ironically, Messiah did come the first time at the
beginning of the last 2,000 years because of our sins!).

Another early Christian
writer, Ephraem the Syrian, wrote about the rapture as early as AD 373:
"For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the
Tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see
the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins"
( On the Last Times, the Antichrist, and the End of the World , A.D.
373). See "Rapture: Three Fascinating Discoveries!" by Grant
Jeffrey, at http://www.raptureme.com/terry/james27.html

I know a few of
my readers do not believe in a pre-trib rapture, but that's okay. Jesus
and I love you anyhow! We may soon see who is correct. Personally, I
am clinging to "the blessed hope" that I won't be here to
see about half the earth's population killed during the outpouring of
God's wrath. It ain't gonna be fun and will literally be hell on earth.
And if the blood of Jesus hasn't purified you by now, getting tortured
or killed by Mr. Antichrist ain't going to do it either!

Whichever, I like
this spiritual law: "According to your faith, be it unto you."